If my boys say the darndest things, my mom can also say and do the most surprising and unexpected things ever. Sharing with you some of those anecdotes of a grandmother –

Anecdotes of a grandmother on Sterilize Yael

October 7, 2015

I so love my mom. She is such a doting grandmother to my boys; never will she allow anything bad happen to them- catching illness included. So when we got home yesterday after a long day of errands, her advice:

A compilation of Momi Berlin’s funny anecdotes from tots. These are my boys’ funny and sometimes bizarre statements that made me laugh and cry. Indeed time flies. Now, my three kids are all feeling grown-up. They now help me take care of the house and even their one-year-old brother. Seldom now, too, that I hear them say something funny or bizarre.

Anecdotes from tots on cookie crumbs

December 20, 2010

Husband was playing Plants vs. Zombies when the kids grouped around him with cookies on their hands.

The little school boy is busy with his assignments. No need for his mama to help him research. Good thing at an early age, this momi was able to train her boys to study on their own.

With three boys all attending school and this mother busy with her one-year-old boy, time management at the small house would certainly be an issue. And so, to make life easier for everyone, I’ve encouraged the boys to be independent on their studies and follow a certain study habit. Their mother is still available though for guidance but not to feed them answers to their homework.

Written a year ago, No fake cries for baby is one of those posts down memory lane. Our baby here is only less than a month old. Today, he is one year and three months old. He cries when needing attention. And he can easily well his eyes with tears.

Any mother would want to see her baby smile than cry uncontrollably. This is our Yael’s not so rare smile. He smiles often, especially after each feeding or diaper change.

“Yael is only faking his cry. I can’t see any tears rolling down his cheeks,” was big Bunso’s observation.

Gratitude turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, confusion into clarity…it makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.

Melody Beattie

When I was a kid, I used to write down quotes I find amusing or simply beautiful. This quote came from that collection. I reread it and smiled to myself. I dug something from my knick knack box, strolled down memory lane, and found myself writing.

I need to share with you two gifts which truly give life to these beautiful wordings of Ms. Beattie.

Note: Written three years ago, I chanced upon this writing from my old files. Again, another lesson from a nine-year-old boy, and this time, Momi Berlin learns of trust and faith. (September 18, 2013)

Innovation begins with wonder.

Living with three beautiful growing boys is always an adventure and a learning experience. Everyday, I learn new things. and it is because of them that I learn important lessons in life such as patience, humility, and love. Most of the time, too, they teach me valuable lessons that I hope make me a better person.

Yesterday was another learning experience. I learned about faith. That I should trust my boys even if they are twenty years my junior. Belittling any of her sons’ creativity isn’t something a parent should do. Because from these youngsters’ imagination bore inventions. And almost all inventions begin with mere wondering. It is then their desire to sophisticate things that further push them to innovate.

It was my second son’s imagination that led him to invent and create his own cellphone holder cum charger cup.

Note: This ‘I Remind Chart’ was written last September 4, 2012. Our chart was conceptualized to help Firstborn cope with his forgetfulness or carelessness. But more than that, it helped me remind myself more of my own flaws.

I was disappointed in firstborn. But I disappointed myself more.

Firstborn forgot things in school. And yesterday was no exception. He failed to remember his bag containing his swimming gear, his rubber shoes included.

I had a heart-to-heart talk with him once. I even scolded him before. And there was a time I also asked him to squat for a few minutes hoping he would learn from his mistakes.

But no to avail.

Then I realized that I disappointed him as well. His mother was never helpful nor supportive. I antagonized him.

Like this:

Our house is filled with reminders that we are abundantly blessed. Boys Live Here is a compilation of some of the writings and photos (pardon the quality of the pictures) I have kept years ago. This momi decided to share these to constantly remind her that she lives in a small house with five beautiful boys.

Boys live here on Wonderwoman

2012

What are you doing there beside my sauce canister, Wonderwoman?

No doubt, it must have been one of the boys. And who among the three? That I have to ask around.

We live separately from my mom. Husband prefers it that way in order for us to be independent as well as for my mom to enjoy her quite space. She requested though that firstborn stays with her. For years, we live in Marikina while my mom and firstborn stay in our Novaliches house. Now, we transferred to Novaliches and got a small space near my mother. Firstborn sleeps at momi’s place still but stays with us during the day. Among my boys, I seldom spend time with my firstborn. We often call each other, though, when we were still in Marikina. Below are some mom and son moments –

mom and son moments on GENEROUS KUYA

March 27, 2010/ 2:25 am

Morning.

School break starts now. Second son stays with my mother for a week. Firstborn and Bunso stay with their parents at the small house. Bunso is disgusted with the idea of not going at the big house*. Big house means they could also play with the Gameboy.**

He cries so hard it makes me want to cry as well. Firstborn, on the contrary, isn’t like his mama. “Stop crying baby brother. If it’s my turn at the big house, I will leave the Gameboy with you,” he says.

“What will you do at the big house instead?” I ask.

“I will play with my other toys then,” he quickly answers with a big smile.